Month: December 2017

Gor Mahia midfielder is set to join Ze Maria at Albanian side KF Tirana
Story courtesy of the Nation
The 2016 SportPesa Premier League (SPL) Most Valuable Player Kenneth Muguna is set to join Albanian giants KF Tirana.

Nation Sport understands that Tirana has reached an agreement with SPL champions Gor Mahia to release the player for a record transfer fee and a percentage on his future sell.

“He is highly unlikely to be part of the team next year. His deal to Tirana is at an advanced stage, in about a week’s time it will be through,” said an official from Gor who sought anonymity.

Tirana Chief Executive Officer Hector Como has been in the country the past two weeks in an attempt to finalise the move which will see the player sign a four-year contract.

“We actually wanted to sign him in August so that we can start the season with him but it didn’t go through. I am quite confident we will have him next month and his work is cut out to immediately fit into the team ahead of the second leg,

“I am hopeful that he can bring creativity in our midfield under his former coach Ze Maria. Our target is to play in the top-flight next season and also retain the FA Cup so that we can play in Europa league,” said Como.

Muguna boasts of a two-year experience in the SPL, where he has fast carved a reputation as a classy attacking midfielder, with wonderful ball skills.

His three goals and nine assists aided the club to their unprecedented 16th silverware.

“I believe I served the team diligently most importantly reclaiming the title. Any player would not want to turn down a new challenge in Europe. Hopefully it will be 100 percent completed soon,” Muguna, who is capped twice for Kenya, said.

The former Palos midfielder will become the sixth star to leave the club after a season following in the footsteps of Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma (2016), Michael Olunga (2015), David ‘Calabar’ Owino (2014), and Geoffrey ‘Baba’ Kizito (2013) among others.

Tirana already has Ugandan duo of midfielder Tony Mawejje and striker Yunus Sentamu at the club handled by former Gor coach Jose Marcelo Ferreira.

They top the country’s second tier standings with 22 points from nine games. Kenyans James Situma, Moses Arita and Francis Kahata have formerly featured for the side before.

The career of Kevin Omondi “Ade” has come full circle as he has rejoined Kogalo, the team where he started his career.

“We have given ‘Ade’ a three year contract after he impressed the coaches in recent training. He was invited to train with the team by coach Kerr and he has given us the go ahead that we sign him and that is what we have done.” said Lordvick Aduda, the Gor Mahia CEO to goal.com

Ade wants to revive a career that was once very promising. Back in 2010, he was voted Kenya secondary school’s player of the year. He joined Kogalo the following season and was quickly named to the national team when only 19 years of age.

After the 2014 season, he left for South Africa. But a fall-out with the coach derailed his stint down South. He would return to Kenya and join Sofapaka the following season. But distracted by off the field issues, he never played well. He decided to join lower tier side Adminsitration Police. In the two friendlies he played against Gor Mahia, he played extremely well as if he had a point to prove.

Gor Mahia have agreed to terms with attacker Samuel Onyango from Ulinzi , defender Wesley Onguso from Sofapaka and Western Stima center half Maurice Ojwang . This according to a report on Citizen sports.

The same report also states that Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza has been sold off to 13-time Rwandan champions Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR).

Mugiraneza, popularly known as Migi, was signed as a replacement for Khalid Aucho but was unable to cement a first team place. He got no playing time under Ze Maria who often played him out of position. Under Frank Nuttall, he played well in spots.

Samwel Onyango is an attacker who often operates on the wings. He has been one of the revelations of the 2017 league and earned a place in the national team.

Kevin Omondi

Other reports suggest that coach Dylan Kerr is interested in bringing back Kevin Omondi “Ade”.

“I’m interested in having Kevin as part of my squad because he is greatly talented. He trained with us for two weeks and I know he is a player who stands a good chance of being signed at Gor. He has a chance to prove how good he is,” Kerr said in an online interview with the Standard.

The sticking point happens to be the relationship between Musa Mohamed and Kevin Omondi which was very sour at one point following revelations that Ade lost his wife to Musa.

But Ade has come out to clarify that he has no issues with Musa.

“There is nothing wrong between me and Musa Mohamed. We are friends and I have no issue concerning anything. I also don’t think he has any issue with me because we have moved on.” he said to the Standard.

His manager, Charles Omondi Korea also stated that Ade is keen to rejoin Kogalo.

“Kevin Omondi is psyched up to re-join Gor anytime. He trained with them for two weeks and the coach is already impressed, so we’re simply waiting for talks with the club’s administration.” he told the Standard

If Omondi is in the right frame of mind, he could be a useful addition to Kogalo where he will be motivated to revive his flagging career which apparently was derailed due to off the field problems.

The manner in which his contract was terminated in South Africa also would have had a negative psychological impact on him thus affecting his play on the field. Dylan Kerr could be the man to put him back in the right frame of mind. His talents have never been in doubt. The problem has always been off the field issues including indiscipline.